ALLEGED VANDALISM

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25, 30 January 1912, Page 8

ALLEGED VANDALISM

"BURKING" SUGGESTED. Allegations of vandalism at the Thorndon Training College were ma.de this afternoon in a letter to the Education Board written by the principal (Mr. J. C. Webb). The Chairman (Mr. R. Lee) explained that when the board had granted the use of the premisses to the military authorities it was carefully stipulated that any damage should be made good. It would appear that some- damage had been done. Mr. J. G. W. Aitken said that the board had only one side of ihe case. Should the letter be published? This roused Mr. A. W. Hogg 10 protest against what he termed a growing tendency to burke matters that came before the board. Mr. W. Allan objected strongly to this statement. He had) never acted in the way suggested. Mr. Hogg : I never referred to you. Mr. Allen : You referred to the members of the board. "YTes, aud I repeat it," rejoined Mr. Hogg. _Mr. Aitken explained that he did not know what was in the letter; he merely desired to know if it should be taken in open board. Local bodies frequently got themselves into trouble through publishing matters that should not be made public. The Chairman said the matter was public, but they should hear the otner side. Mr. Aitken: Has the Department been communicated with? The Chairman : Tho letter was only received to-day. We can't decide what to do without reading the letter. The letter, dated to-day, was as follows: — "I have to report that on my arrival this morning I found the premises had been used by the military authorities for drill of the Territorials or Senior Cadets last evening, and a great amount of damage done through horseplay; cabbages and other plant 6 were uprooted from our experimental and garden plots and thrown into Brook-street. Gratings and other materials had been removed, -wire netting torn down, objectionable drawings and writing put on the walls and blackboards, and other ' minor traces loft of "vandalism. The caretaker was on the premieee, but the Cadets did not leave till long after'dark, say, 9 p.m., and it was impossible for him to see what was going on. "The use of our premises by- the Defence Department was granted without any reference to myself, although I take it I 'am responsible for the care of such premises, and in view of last flight's proceedings I beg respectfully .to submit that the board should -reconsider the whole matter of the use of the premises by the Defence authorities.'* It was explained by the secretary that tho use of the Normal School premises was allowed the military authorities on the understanding that lecture hall only would be used for let_tare purposes, and the playground for drill one evening" per week, , on condition that the men Avere admitted to and dismissed from the premises 'under the supervision of a qualified officer; that all damage was made good ;. and that no smoking W;as allowed within tfiia building. ■ The matter is to be referred to the military authorities. >